Lesson Plan
Session 1 Plan
Build 1:1 rapport, introduce the student to the Finding Your New Nest series, and explore their personal feelings about the move through reflective activities.
A one-on-one session creates a safe, confidential space where the student feels heard and supported while navigating transition-related emotions.
Audience
Individual Student
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Individual reflection and guided discussion
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
- Print copies of the Feelings Wheel, Transition Reflection Worksheet, and Personal Journaling Sheet
- Arrange a comfortable, private meeting space with seating and minimal distractions
- Review the flow in Session 1 Plan to familiarize yourself
Step 1
Welcome & Introduction
5 minutes
- Greet the student warmly and introduce the purpose of Finding Your New Nest
- Emphasize confidentiality, respect, and that this is a safe space
- Explain you’ll explore feelings and learn coping strategies together
Step 2
Icebreaker: Personal Connections
5 minutes
- Ask the student to share one thing they miss from their previous home or loved ones and one thing they look forward to in their new community
- Model your own examples to build comfort
- Encourage them to elaborate on why they chose each
Step 3
Explore Feelings with the Wheel
10 minutes
- Provide the Feelings Wheel
- Guide the student to circle emotions they’ve felt since the move
- Discuss each chosen emotion: what it feels like, when it arises, and its intensity
- Validate that all emotions are normal
Step 4
Transition Reflection
7 minutes
- Hand the Transition Reflection Worksheet
- Ask the student to draw or write about a memory with someone they miss most
- Encourage use of words, doodles, and colors to express feelings
- Discuss their responses and reflect on how these memories influence current emotions
Step 5
Personal Journaling & Next Steps
3 minutes
- Give the Personal Journaling Sheet
- Prompt the student to choose one coping strategy to try before the next session
- Ask them to note when and how they’ll use it
- Close by thanking them and scheduling the next meeting
Slide Deck
Session 1: Finding Your New Nest
6th Grade Emotional Support • 30 minutes
Building Our Community and Exploring Change
Introduce yourself and welcome students to Session 1 of Finding Your New Nest. Explain that over the next six weeks they’ll explore feelings about change, build coping skills, and support one another. Emphasize confidentiality, respect, and active listening as our foundation.
Today's Agenda
• Welcome & Introduction (5 min)
• Icebreaker: Share Your Transitions (5 min)
• Establish Group Norms (5 min)
• Explore Feelings with the Feelings Wheel (7 min)
• Memory Reflection Worksheet (5 min)
• Personal Journaling & Closure (3 min)
Briefly walk through today’s flow so students know what to expect. Note time allowances for each part.
Icebreaker: Share Your Transitions
• Name one thing you miss from your previous home or loved ones
• Name one thing you’re excited about in New Mexico
• Keep responses to 30–45 seconds each
Model your own answer first: one thing you miss, one thing you’re excited about. Encourage brevity. Keep the pace moving.
Establish Group Norms
• Suggest norms for respect, confidentiality, and participation
• Record ideas on the Group Norms Poster
• Agree on 4–5 core norms to guide our sessions
Display or hang the Group Norms Poster. Invite suggestions and write them down. Aim for 4–5 clear norms (e.g., respect, confidentiality, active listening).
Explore Your Feelings
• Circle emotions on the Feelings Wheel
• Pair up and discuss one emotion you chose and why
• Remember: all feelings are valid and normal
Hand out the Feelings Wheel. Guide students to circle emotions they’ve felt since the move. Then pair them up for quick share. Reinforce that all emotions are valid.
Memory Reflection
• Grab your Transition Reflection Worksheet
• Draw or write about a memory with the person you miss most
• Use words, doodles, or colors to express yourself
Distribute the Transition Reflection Worksheet. Encourage students to draw or write their favorite memory with the person they miss. Let them use colors and doodles.
Personal Journaling & Closure
• On your Personal Journaling Sheet, jot down one coping strategy to try this week
• Volunteers may share their strategy
• Thank you! See you at Session 2
Give each student a Personal Journaling Sheet. Prompt them to identify one coping strategy to try before Session 2. Invite volunteers to share. Remind them of next meeting.
Worksheet
Transition Reflection Worksheet
Session 1 – Memory Reflection
Instructions: Think about one person you miss most. Use the questions below to draw or write about a special memory with that person.
- Who is the person you miss most?
- Draw your favorite memory with this person in the space below.
- What happened in this memory? Describe it in your own words.
- How did you feel during this memory?
- Why is this memory important to you?
Take your time and be creative—use colors, doodles, or words to express how special this memory is to you. Good work!
Activity
Create Your Feelings Wheel
Session 1 – Visualize Your Emotions (One-on-One)
Instructions:
- On a blank sheet, draw a large circle and divide it into six equal slices (like a pie).
- Label each slice with one core emotion:
• Happy
• Sad
• Angry
• Scared
• Tired
• Calm - In each slice, shade or color how strongly you’ve felt that emotion since the move (light = a little, dark = a lot).
- Around the outside of each slice, write 3–5 secondary emotions you’ve experienced that connect to that core feeling. Use these examples to help you:
• Happy: joyful, excited, playful, content, proud
• Sad: homesick, lonely, nostalgic, disappointed, melancholic
• Angry: irritable, resentful, frustrated, annoyed, jealous
• Scared: anxious, worried, overwhelmed, uncertain, insecure
• Tired: fatigued, drained, sleepy, bored, sluggish
• Calm: peaceful, relaxed, centered, hopeful, steady - When you’re done, choose one slice to discuss with me. Name the emotion and explain why it stood out to you.
Reflection Questions
- Which emotion slice is the darkest? Why do you think that is?
- How can noticing this help you choose a coping strategy before our next session?
Take your wheel to our next meeting so we can talk about what you noticed and plan coping strategies together!
Slide Deck
Group Norms
Use this poster to record the group’s agreed-upon norms. Encourage students to suggest clear, positive statements (e.g., respect, confidentiality, active listening). Aim for 4–5 core norms and write them here.
Worksheet
Personal Journaling Sheet
Session 1 – Coping Strategy Plan & Reflection
Name: __________________________ Date: __________________
Instructions: Use this sheet to plan and reflect on one coping strategy you’ll try before our next session.
- Right now I am feeling:
- One challenge I’m facing:
- A coping strategy I will try this week is:
- How and when I will use this strategy (be specific):
- After trying it (to complete before our next session):
• Did I try the strategy? ___ Yes ___ No
• What happened when I used it?
• How did I feel afterward?
- One thing I learned about myself through this experience:
Bring this sheet to our next meeting so we can discuss how it went. Great work!
Lesson Plan
Session 2 Plan
Introduce students to two evidence-based coping skills—deep breathing and grounding—and have them practice and reflect on these techniques to manage stress during transitions.
Building on last week’s emotional exploration, teaching concrete coping strategies empowers students to self-regulate, feel more in control, and build resilience when they miss loved ones or face change.
Audience
6th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided practice, interactive group activities, and personal reflection
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
- Print copies of the Coping Skills Reflection Worksheet and Personal Journaling Sheet Session 2
- Prepare and display the Deep Breathing Poster where all can see
- Cut out cards from the Grounding Techniques Card Set and group them by table
- Review the flow in Session 2 Plan to familiarize yourself with timings
Step 1
Welcome & Check-In
5 minutes
- Greet students warmly as they arrive
- Invite each to share one word about how they’re feeling today
- Briefly revisit the coping strategy they tried since Session 1
Step 2
Introduce Coping Skills
5 minutes
- Explain that today’s focus is on skills to calm our body and mind
- Show the Deep Breathing Poster and highlight key steps
- Emphasize that these tools can be used anytime they feel stressed or homesick
Step 3
Deep Breathing Practice
7 minutes
- Lead students through a 4-4-6 breathing exercise: inhale 4 s, hold 4 s, exhale 6 s
- Model each count, then have students practice together while watching the poster
- After 2–3 rounds, ask: “How did your body and mind feel?”
Step 4
Grounding Technique Activity
7 minutes
- Divide students into small groups and give each group a few cards from the Grounding Techniques Card Set
- Each group chooses one technique (e.g., 5-4-3-2-1 senses, naming favorite colors) and practices it together
- After 3–4 minutes, groups briefly share which technique they tried and what they noticed
Step 5
Reflection on Skills
4 minutes
- Distribute the Coping Skills Reflection Worksheet
- Ask students to write or draw:
• Which skill they liked best and why
• One situation when they might use it this week
Step 6
Personal Journaling & Closure
2 minutes
- Hand out the Personal Journaling Sheet Session 2
- Prompt students to plan when and how they will use their chosen coping skill before Session 3
- Thank students and remind them of the next meeting time
Activity
Grounding Techniques Card Set
Session 2 – Grounding Techniques
Instructions: Shuffle the cards and place one face-down at each table. In small groups, flip over your card, read the technique aloud, and practice together for 3–4 minutes. Afterwards, share what you noticed.
Card 1: 5-4-3-2-1 Senses
• Name 5 things you can see right now.
• Name 4 things you can touch.
• Name 3 things you can hear.
• Name 2 things you can smell.
• Name 1 thing you can taste.
Card 2: Object Observation
• Choose one object in the room.
• Describe its color, shape, size, texture, and weight in as much detail as you can.
Card 3: Safe Place Visualization
• Close your eyes.
• Picture a place where you always feel calm and safe (beach, park, bedroom).
• Describe it together: What do you see, hear, smell, and feel?
Card 4: Alphabet Grounding
• Pick a category (e.g., animals, foods, emotions).
• Take turns naming one item for each letter of the alphabet.
Card 5: Body Scan Relaxation
• Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
• Slowly bring your attention to each part of your body (feet → head).
• Notice any tension and intentionally relax that area before moving on.
Card 6: Chair Press Exercise
• Sit tall in your chair with feet flat on the floor.
• Press your back firmly into the seat for a count of 5.
• Release and relax for a count of 5.
• Repeat 3–4 times, noticing how your body feels.
Worksheet
Coping Skills Reflection Worksheet
Session 2 – Reflecting on Deep Breathing and Grounding Techniques
Instructions: Use this sheet to think back on the coping skill you practiced today and plan how you’ll use it before our next session.
- Which coping skill did I practice today? (Choose one or both)
• Deep Breathing (4-4-6) – see the Deep Breathing Poster
• Grounding Technique – see the Grounding Techniques Card Set
- What did I notice when I tried this skill? Describe what happened.
- How did my body and mind feel afterward?
- When during my week could I use this skill? Be specific (time, place, or situation).
- What challenges might I face in using this skill, and how can I address them?
Bring this completed worksheet to Session 3 so we can discuss how these strategies are working for you. Good work!
Worksheet
Personal Journaling Sheet Session 2
Session 2 – Coping Skill Plan & Reflection
Name: ______________________________ Date: __________________
Instructions: Use this sheet to plan how you will use your chosen coping skill this week and reflect on your experience before our next session.
- Today I am feeling:
- One thing I find challenging right now is:
- The coping skill I want to focus on is (deep breathing or a grounding technique):
- When and where I will use this skill (be specific):
- After trying it (complete this part before our next session):
• Did I try my skill? ___ Yes ___ No• What happened when I used it?
• How did I feel afterward?
- Something I learned about using this skill:
Bring this sheet to Session 3 so we can discuss how it went. Great work!
Slide Deck
Deep Breathing Technique (4-4-6)
• Inhale slowly through your nose for 4 seconds.
• Hold your breath gently for 4 seconds.
• Exhale fully through your mouth for 6 seconds.
Repeat 3–5 times, noticing how your body and mind respond.
Lesson Plan
Session 3 Plan
Help the student identify personal strengths, reflect on how they’ve used them, and apply them to a personal scenario through one-on-one planning and journaling.
Recognizing and leveraging personal strengths individually builds confidence and equips the student with tools to navigate change and homesickness at their own pace.
Audience
Individual Student
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Individual reflection and scenario-based planning
Materials
Strengths Brainstorm Worksheet, Resilience Scenario Cards, Personal Journaling Sheet Session 3, and Paper and pen
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
- Print a copy of the Strengths Brainstorm Worksheet
- Print and cut the Resilience Scenario Cards
- Print the Personal Journaling Sheet Session 3
- Arrange a quiet, comfortable one-on-one meeting space
- Review the flow in Session 3 Plan to familiarize yourself
Step 1
Welcome & Check-In
5 minutes
- Greet the student warmly
- Ask how trying last session’s coping strategies went and what strengths they noticed using
- Briefly review any notes they brought from Session 2 journal
Step 2
Identify Personal Strengths
10 minutes
- Hand the Strengths Brainstorm Worksheet
- Invite the student to list at least five personal strengths (qualities, skills, talents)
- Discuss one strength they feel most proud of and why it matters
Step 3
Apply Strengths to a Scenario
10 minutes
- Lay out the Resilience Scenario Cards face down
- Ask the student to draw one card and read the scenario aloud
- Guide them to identify which personal strengths could help and how they would apply them in that situation
- Discuss their ideas and validate their approach
Step 4
Personal Reflection & Planning
3 minutes
- Give the Personal Journaling Sheet Session 3
- Prompt the student to choose one strength and plan when and how to use it before the next session
- Encourage specifics: time, place, and steps they’ll take
Step 5
Next Steps & Closure
2 minutes
- Summarize key insights and plans
- Confirm the date/time of the next one-on-one session
- Thank the student for sharing and encourage them to try their plan
Worksheet
Strengths Brainstorm Worksheet
Session 3 – Identifying Your Personal Strengths
Instructions: Reflect on your unique qualities, skills, and talents. Use the prompts below to list and explore your personal strengths.
- List five personal strengths (qualities, skills, or talents):
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- Which one of these strengths are you most proud of, and why?
- Describe a time when you used this strength to overcome a challenge or feel more confident.
- How could you use this strength to help you manage change, transitions, or feelings of homesickness this week?
Next Steps:
• In our Group Resilience Activity, you’ll apply these strengths to different scenarios using the Resilience Scenario Cards.
• Before Session 4, plan one specific way to use your chosen strength on your Personal Journaling Sheet Session 3. Good work!
Activity
Resilience Scenario Cards
Session 3 – Applying Strengths to Real-Life Challenges (One-on-One)
Instructions:
• Shuffle the cards and place them face-down in front of you.
• Pick one card and read the scenario aloud.
• Reflect on each question below and jot your responses on a separate sheet:
- What’s happening in this situation?
- Which personal strengths from your list could help?
- How would you use those strengths to handle this challenge?
Card 1: First Day Jitters
You feel nervous and out of place on your first day at the new school. You really want to join a group project, but you’re afraid to speak up in class.
Card 2: Lunchtime Loneliness
At lunch, you notice the same students are sitting together and chatting. You don’t know anyone yet and feel left out and homesick.
Card 3: Homework Overwhelm
You miss your parent’s help with homework. Tonight you have a big math assignment and feel frustrated because you don’t understand the instructions.
Card 4: New Rules, New Frustrations
The school has strict hall-passing rules and detention for tardiness. You’re used to more flexibility and feel resentful and anxious about being late.
Card 5: Weekend Isolation
Over the weekend you have no way to get to a friend’s house or community event. You feel bored, lonely, and missing the social activities back home.
Card 6: Technology Trouble
You need to submit your story draft online, but you don’t have reliable internet at home. You’re worried about falling behind.
Use your strengths—like communication, problem-solving, or empathy—to generate solutions and plan your next steps.
Worksheet
Personal Journaling Sheet Session 3
Session 3 – Strengths Action Plan & Reflection
Name: __________________________ Date: __________________
Instructions: Use this sheet to plan how you will apply one of your personal strengths over the coming week and reflect on your experience before our next session.
- Today I am feeling:
- One challenge I want to address using my strength is:
- The personal strength I will focus on is:
- When and where I will use this strength (be specific):
- After trying it (complete before our next session):
• Did I try using my strength? ___ Yes ___ No
• What happened when I used it?
• How did I feel afterward?
- Something I learned about myself from using this strength:
Bring this sheet to our next meeting so we can discuss how it went. Great work!
Slide Deck
Session 3: Celebrating Strengths
6th Grade Emotional Support • 30 minutes
Identifying Personal Strengths & Applying Them to Challenges
Welcome students and introduce Session 3: Celebrating Strengths & Building Resilience. Remind everyone of our group norms and the safe space we’ve created.
Today's Agenda
• Welcome & Check-In (5 min)
• Identify Personal Strengths (8 min)
• Group Resilience Activity (8 min)
• Gallery Walk & Discussion (5 min)
• Personal Journaling & Closure (4 min)
Briefly walk through today’s agenda and time allocations so students know what to expect.
Welcome & Check-In
• Share one personal strength you used this week
• Briefly revisit successes and challenges from your Session 2 journal
Greet each student as they arrive. Ask: “What’s one personal strength you noticed using this week?” Then revisit successes and challenges from their Session 2 journal sheets.
Identify Personal Strengths
• Split out your Strengths Brainstorm Worksheet
• List at least 5 personal strengths (qualities, skills, talents)
• Pair up and share one strength and why you’re proud of it
Distribute the Strengths Brainstorm Worksheet. Explain each prompt, then give students 5–6 minutes to list strengths. Afterward, have them pair up and share one strength and why it matters.
Group Resilience Activity
• In small groups, draw a card from the Resilience Scenario Cards
• Discuss:
- What’s happening?
- Which strengths could help?
- How would you apply them?
• Record your ideas on poster paper
Explain the Group Resilience Activity: each group draws a scenario card, discusses which strengths help, and records ideas on poster paper. Circulate to support and prompt deeper thinking.
Gallery Walk & Discussion
• Display each group’s poster around the room
• Walk around and leave positive feedback or questions
• Discuss as a class: “Which strategies stood out?”
Have groups post their posters around the room. Students walk the gallery, leave positive feedback, then regroup. Facilitate a discussion asking: ‘What strengths and strategies stood out to you?’
Personal Journaling & Closure
• Grab your [Personal Journaling Sheet Session 3](#session-
Hand out the Personal Journaling Sheet Session 3. Prompt students to choose one strength, plan when and how to use it this week, and complete the reflection. Invite volunteers to share. Preview that Session 4 will focus on building connections.